Penicillin V potassium (penicillin VK) is an antibiotic used to treat mild to moderately severe infections due to penicillin G-sensitive microorganisms. Penicillin VK is available in generic form.
Patients with a history of allergic reactions to other penicillins should not receive penicillin VK. Serious but rare reactions to penicillin VK include:
The usual adult dose of penicillin VK is 125 to 500 mg every 6-8 hours.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Penicillin VK?
Benemid (Probenecid) causes an increase in the level of penicillin VK in the blood by reducing the elimination of penicillin by the kidneys.
Penicillin VK During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Penicillin VK is considered safe during pregnancy. Penicillin VK is excreted in breast milk and may cause diarrhea or allergic responses in nursing infants.
Additional Information
Our Penicillin VK Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Penicillin VK Consumer Information
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;
red or scaly skin;
fever, chills, swollen glands, muscle or joint pain, fast heartbeats, general ill feeling;
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
little or no urinating;
bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
seizure (convulsions); or
unusual changes in mood or behavior.
Common side effects may include:
mild diarrhea;
headache;
black or hairy tongue; or
pain, swelling, bruising, or irritation around the IV needle.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Although the incidence of reactions to oral penicillins
has been reported with much less frequency than following parenteral therapy,
it should be remembered that all degrees of hypersensitivity, including fatal
anaphylaxis, have been reported with oral penicillin.
The most common reactions to oral penicillin are nausea,
vomiting, epigastric distress, diarrhea, and black hairy tongue. The
hypersensitivity reactions reported are skin eruptions (maculopapular to exfoliative
dermatitis), urticaria and other serum-sicknesslike reactions, laryngeal edema,
and anaphylaxis.
&Copy; Penicillin VK Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Penicillin VK Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
